Define your ideal school
What qualities are you looking for in a school? Do you want one that's big or small? Strong in academics or the arts — or both? When you list what's most important at the outset, you're more likely to find the right school for your child.
- Choosing a school: an overview
- Considering your family needs
- Private vs. public
- Traditional school alternatives
Start your search
Find schools in your area. First search by school name, city or district. Then narrow your search by public, charter or private and by school level.
Find a school
Prep for your school visit
Once you've narrowed your list to a handful of schools, make appointments to visit each one, because seeing is believing. Take along our School Visit Checklist to get the most out of your tours.
Download checklist for
- Insider tricks to assessing a preschool, elementary school, middle school, and high school
- Assessing a school's achievement gap
- Searching for security
Apply and enroll
After you've made your choice, find out the application deadline, assemble all the necessary documents and apply. Have a plan B, in case you don't get your first choice.
Next: Get ready!
Now that you've picked a school, find out what your child will be expected to know as he enters each grade level.
- Get your child ready for:
